David Moller Wolfe (AZ Alkmaar), Odin Thiago Holm (Celtic Glasgow), Hugo Larsson (Eintrach Frankfurt) or Jacob Ondrejka (Royal Antwerp) are only the last four relevant transfers that Scandinavian football has made to a top league in Europe. Being also two of the few leagues that are being played at the moment, it is interesting to see different profiles that could follow in their footsteps.
In leagues like Allsvenskan (Sweden) or Eliteserien (Norway), given their average level, to consider a player with the potential to land in one of the top ten leagues in Europe you have to look at which U20 players stand out from the rest. Standing out at the age of 23 or 24 doesn’t quite follow that filter that highlights the most special talents in Nordic football. So we set about scouting U20 talents in both leagues, with different profiles and positions, to find the talents who will soon have a chance to emigrate and grow in stronger leagues in exchange for interesting transfer fees.
Going deeper into a profile that has already made the leap, we visualise the performance of Hugo Larsson, the most interesting midfielder in all metrics related to passing, build-up, ball control and playmaking is Hugo Larsson, not only among the youngsters but also in general terms. Player with above average ball handling and quality of play. Extraordinary future in the medium term.
Filip Sidklev – 18 years old
A couple of weeks ago we talked more in depth about Filip Sidklev, an 18 year old goalkeeper from IF Brommapojkarna, who is surprisingly making a name for himself as a starter and excelling both under the sticks and with his feet and long delivery. A natural talent destined to earn a Swedish international cap and a move to a major European league in the next few years.
Amane Romeo – 20 years old
All-round attacking midfielder from Côte d’Ivoire who has already been linked with Belgian and Dutch clubs, including Ajax. He handles both legs very well, knows how to escape pressure on both sides and has both a great dribble and a very good pass to break lines or generate goal-scoring chances. Used to playing in the team with the second highest possession and most passes per possession in the league. Hacken’s offensive engine, he has very similar characteristics to N’golo Kanté.
Montader Madjed – 18 years old
Although he made his debut in the Swedish league at the age of 16, it is only at the age of 18 that Montader Madjed is playing with continuity. The Hammarby player has shown great one-on-one ability, with a very precise dribbling, improvised cuts and runs, as well as great power and a fantastic speed. At the moment he is a fairly specific player in terms of technical actions and areas of influence but he can also play between the lines or develop very well in the final metres, playing with his back to the ball and turning to carry and the shot on goal.
Benie Traore – 20 years old
At the age of 20, he is the top scorer of the championship (8 goals + 4 penalties), but Benie Traoré is much more than a goal scorer. He is a player who plays at a superior speed, not only in his movements, but also in his agility and mental speed to vary plays and unbalance in short spaces surrounded by defenders. He has already attracted the interest of Sheffield United, recently promoted to the Premier League. A player who may be penalised by his short stature at the highest level, but who has great ability to link up with others, get unmarked and get on the scoresheet. Similar in gestures and driving to Sadio Mané.
Lucas Bergvall – 17 years old
After his signing for Djugarden he is not having a great season, perhaps suffering from the expectations, but Lucas Bergvall is a special talent to keep an eye on. At the age of 16 he played very good minutes for IF Brommapojkarna. His outstanding game against reigning league champions Bk Hacken exemplifies the potential he has. Midfielder with a wide range of play, participative, calm, pausing and accelerating, with dribbling and good start playing between the lines, with great mobility and dynamism. A very interesting talent who also has a large wingspan (186cm). International with Sweden U-17.
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